Scammers—often referred to as “Toner Phoners”—are once again targeting businesses in our area. These bad actors impersonate legitimate toner suppliers and attempt to trick employees into revealing information or placing unauthorized, fraudulent toner orders.
Unfortunately, these scams are effective because they rely on urgency, familiarity, and misinformation. Businesses of all sizes can be impacted if teams are not aware of how these scams operate.
How the Toner Phoner Scam Works
Toner pirates typically follow a predictable script designed to sound routine and trustworthy:
- They call your office asking for copier or printer model numbers.
- They imply—or outright state—that they are your regular toner supplier.
- They often refuse to provide a callback number or hang up when questioned.
Once they obtain enough information, they may ship overpriced or incompatible toner and send an invoice that appears legitimate—leaving your business with unnecessary costs and wasted time.
How to Protect Your Team
The best defense against toner scams is awareness. Here’s what you should know:
- A Fisher’s Technology representative will never call asking for your machine model numbers—we already have that information on file.
- We do not cold call customers to sell toner.
- Any legitimate communication from Fisher’s Technology will clearly identify who we are and include a local callback number.
- If you are ever unsure about a call, contact us directly to verify before taking action.
Educating your front desk, IT staff, and purchasing teams on these red flags can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to toner fraud.
We’re Here to Help
If you receive a suspicious call, have questions about toner ordering, or believe your business may have been targeted, don’t hesitate to contact Fisher’s Technology. Our team is always happy to help verify legitimate requests and keep your organization protected.